Package-delivering apparatus for stores.



No. 806,001.. v PATENTED NOV.28,1905'.

E. ROBERTS:

PACKAGE DELIVERING APPARATUS FOR STORES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7|19Q5w UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFIOE.

PACKAGE-DELIVERING APPARATUS FOR STORES.

To all whom it may concern.- l

Be it known that LEDGAR RoBERTs,a citizen of the United States, and a resident of East St. Louis; Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Package-Delivering Apparatus for Stores, of which the following is a specification containing a full,

clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

' My invention relates to a package-delivering apparatus for stores; and the object of my invention is to construct an apparatus for quickly delivering packages to a cashiers desk or salesmans table, from which point they are delivered to the purchaser.

A further objectof my invention is to lessen the work of a salesman in going from one part of a store to another to get a package that may be desired by the purchaser and the consequent work of wrapping up the package, making out a sales-slip, and delivering the package to the purchaser.

In a great many stores, and particularly in drug-stores and groceries, a large number of commodities are put up in uniformly-sized packages, and my invention is particularly adapted for goods thus put up for sale.

To the above purposes my invention consists in certain novel features of construction "and arrangement of parts that will be hereinafter more fully shown, described, and claimed.

Figure 1 is aplan View of a cashiers desk or salesmans table and my improved apparatus in plan view adjacent thereto. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of two of the packageholders of my improved apparatus in position upon the framework and showing the endless carrier for delivering the packages to the cashiers desk or table. Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken approximately on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail section taken vertically through the lower end of one of the package-carrying boxes and showing a number of packages therein. Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the operating handles or levers made use of in carrying out my invention.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings, 1 indicates the cashiers or salesmans table, which is located at one end of a rail or table 2, that may be extended any reasonable distance from the table 1 and upon which is located the devices for discharging the packages from the package containing Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 7, 1905. Serial N0. 264,171.

Patented Nov. 28,, 1905.

boxes. Immediately in front-of and below this rail or table 2 is a pair of vertically-arranged longitudinally-extending timbers 3, that form a trough forthe endless carrier of my improved apparatus. This carrier is preferably an endless belt 4, operating upon rollers5, the trunnions of which arejournaled int'ne lower portionsof the timbers 3, and this endless carrier may be driven mechanically or by hand, and it is arranged so that it discharges upon the front end of the table 1.

Arranged immediately above the endless carrier 4 and just in frontof the front edge of the table 2 is a rail 6, that supports the package-carrying boxes of my improved apparatus. These boxes 7 are in the form of verticallyarranged rectangular, chutes and are constructed, preferably, of sheet metal, having their rear vertical edges bent inwardly, as indicated by 8. The lower ends of the sides of these boxes are bent inwardly, as indicated by 9, in order to support the packages within the boxes. and the front wall of each box is cut away at the lower end, as indicated by 10, in order that the lower one of the packages in each box can be the rail 6, and by reason of the springs in said hingesll, and also by reason of the weight of the packages within the boxes, said boxes will hang at a slight angle relative a perpendicular and with their rear lower corners at a line just above the front edge of the rail or table 2.

12 indicates a discharging-plate, which is hinged at its rear end to the rail or table 2, the front'end of said plate being bent downwardly at right angles to the body portion thereof, as indicated by 13, and said downwardly-bent end normally occupying a position against the lower one of the packages in the box 7, and each plate 12 is normally held in an elevated position by aspring 14, located beneath the plate and secured to the rail or table 2. Secured to the inwardly-bent edges 8 on the rear side of each box and adjacent the lower end thereof is a cross-bar 15,. to which is secured one end of a cord or cable 16, that extends downwardly to the rear end of the rail, or table 2 and there passes around a grooved pulley 17 and from thence to the cashiers table 1. Arranged on this table 1,

IIO

on the same side with my improved apparatus, is a series of bell-cranks 18, there being one crank foreach of the boxes 7 and to the outer ends of said bell-cranks are connected the free ends of the cords or cables 16. These bell-cranks 18 are pivoted, as indicated by 19, to the table 1, and their front arms are provided on their upper ends with disks 20, on which is indicated the number of the box that each particular key controls.

The packages are all properly tied up and located in the boxes 7. When a purchaser asks for a certain article, the cashier or salesman at the table 1 manipulates the bell-crank 18, that manipulates the box 7, containing the desired article, and by so doing pulls the cord or cable 16, that is attached to said box 7, and moves the box into a vertical position, as seen by dotted lines in Fig. 3. As this movement takes place the lowermost one of the packages in said box is brought into contact with the downwardlyturned end 13 of the discharge-plate 12 and by said contact is forced out of the lower end of the box onto the endless carrier 4. As soon as this takes place the remainder of the packages within the box will descend until the lowermost one rests upon the inwardly-bent lips 9, and in so doing the discharge-plate 12 is moved downwardly to its limit of movement, compressing the spring 14. After this action has taken place the operator releases the bell-crank 18, and the combined weight of the packages within the box 7 that has just been moved, together with the action of the spring-hinge at the upper end of said box, will cause said box to swing again into its inclined or normal position, and as soon as this takes place the discharge-plate 12 will be elevated to its normal position. After the package has been deposited onto the endless carrier it is brought by the same to the cashiers desk or salesmans table, there to be delivered to the purchaser.

My improved apparatus can be arranged to suit any store-room and can be arranged in tiers one above the other, and thus accommodate a large number of packages of different goods. The apparatus is simple, inexpensive, easily operated, and saves much time and labor in the sale and delivery of uniformlysized packages.

I claim 1. In an apparatus of the class described, a rail, boxes for the reception of the packages hinged to said rail and depending therefrom; spring-actuated discharging-plates arranged to the side of the lower ends of said boxes, and connections to each box for swinging it over its corresponding discharge-plaEsu-bstantially as specified.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a table, of a rail extending outwardly from the table, an endless carrier operating below and in front of said rail, a second rail arranged above the first-mentioned rail, a series of package-containing boxes hinged to the upper rail, package-discharging mechanism arranged on the lower rail in the paths of travel of the lower ends of the boxes, and suitable connections from the boxes to the table whereby said boxes are swung over the package-discharging means; substantially as specified.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a pair of rails, a series of package-containing boxes hinged to the upper rail, spring-actuated discharging-plates arranged on the lower rail in the path of travel of the lower ends of said boxes, means whereby said boxes are swung over the discharging-plates, and an endless carrier operating beneath and in front of the lower rail for delivering all of the discharged packages to a common point; substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDGAR ROBERTS.

Witnesses:

M. P. SMITH, EDW. M. HARRINGTON. 

